About St. Columba's College, St. Albans
St. Columba's College, St. Albans uses the CEM 11+ entrance examination for Year 7 entry. The CEM assessment covers English Comprehension, Verbal Reasoning, Mathematical Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning. Academic scholarships and means-tested bursaries may be available.
St. Columba's College, St. Albans offers an outstanding education with excellent academic standards, small class sizes and a wide range of extracurricular opportunities. GCSE 9–7: 54.6%.
About the CEM-style 11+ Test for St. Columba's College, St. Albans
St. Columba's College, St. Albans is a co-educational independent school in England that historically used the CEM 11+ entrance test (Centre for Evaluation and Monitoring, University of Durham) for Year 7 admission. Note that many schools have transitioned to GL Assessment or bespoke entrance tests since CEM 11+ was retired in 2022 — verify the current format on the school's website. The school admits approximately a limited number of Year 7 pupils each September, and applications are made directly to St. Columba's College, St. Albans (registration fee payable).
The CEM-style 11+ format traditionally consists of one or two papers covering English (comprehension, cloze passages, vocabulary), Mathematics (numerical reasoning, problem-solving), Verbal Reasoning, and Non-Verbal Reasoning. CEM scores are age-standardised so younger pupils are not disadvantaged. The CEM-style is the established alternative reference format to GL Assessment.
For 2026 entry, the St. Columba's College, St. Albans entrance exam is held in Saturday 20 September 2025, with results and offers issued in Monday 2 March 2026.
St. Columba's College, St. Albans is academically selective — pupils must achieve the qualifying mark in the entrance test to be eligible for a place. If applications exceed the published admission number (available places), the school applies its oversubscription criteria to allocate places fairly. This page is updated each year with the latest verified admissions criteria, key dates and oversubscription rules.
Year 7 Admissions Guide for St. Columba's College, St. Albans
St. Columba's College, St. Albans Admissions Criteria
St. Columba's College, St. Albans uses the CEM 11+ entrance examination for Year 7 entry. The CEM assessment covers English Comprehension, Verbal Reasoning, Mathematical Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning. Academic scholarships and means-tested bursaries may be available.
- ✓Register with St. Columba's College, St. Albans via the school's admissions office or website.
- ✓A reference is requested from the child's current school ahead of the assessment.
- ✓Sit the CEM 11+ entrance examination at the school: two written papers — English/Comprehension and Mathematics/Reasoning.
- ✓All questions are multiple-choice. Papers cover English Comprehension, Verbal Reasoning, Mathematical Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning.
- ✓Attend an interview or informal assessment day at the school.
- ✓No fixed pass mark — selection is based on the overall entrance assessment and interview.
- ✓Offers typically made within 1–2 weeks of the assessment.
- ✓Academic, Music, Sport and other Scholarships may be available.
- ✓Means-tested Bursaries available for eligible families — contact the school's bursar.
- ✓Open Days held each term — book via the school website.
St. Columba's College, St. Albans Oversubscription Criteria
For 2026 Year 7 entry, St. Columba's College, St. Albans ranks applicants by performance in the CEM-style entrance assessment. The following selection priorities are typically applied:
- Children who meet the academic standard in St. Columba's College, St. Albans's entrance assessment (CEM-style)
- Children with siblings currently attending the school
- Children of former pupils (alumni connections)
- Children with strong references from current primary head
- Children of staff members (where applicable)
- Distance from school / catchment priority (some independents)
- Children ranked by performance in the assessment up to St. Columba's College, St. Albans's places available
- Tiebreak: interview performance, references, or other school-specific criteria
Key Dates & Deadlines — St. Columba's College, St. Albans 2026 Entry
| 📌 Registration opens | May 2025 via SWH Consortium portal |
| 📌 Registration closes | Friday 27 June 2025 |
| 📌 CEM-style 11+ Entrance Test | Saturday 20 September 2025 (English + Maths + VR + NVR) |
| 📌 Test results released | Mid-October 2025 |
| 📌 Offers issued by school | Monday 2 March 2026 |
How to Apply to St. Columba's College, St. Albans Directly
Step 1 — Attend an Open Day at St. Columba's College, St. Albans
Visit during Year 5 to meet staff, tour the school and assess fit. Independent school open days are usually in Sept-Nov.
Step 2 — Register your child with St. Columba's College, St. Albans
Complete the registration form on the school's website. Registration closes Friday 27 June 2025. A registration fee usually applies.
Step 3 — Sit the school's entrance assessment
St. Columba's College, St. Albans's entrance exam (CEM-style format) is typically held in Saturday 20 September 2025. Covers English, Mathematics, Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning, plus interview.
Step 4 — Provide school references
Your child's current Head Teacher will be asked to submit a confidential reference. Strong references are particularly important for independent schools.
Step 5 — Attend an interview
Most independent schools interview shortlisted candidates. Interviews assess motivation, character and academic potential.
Step 6 — Receive your offer
Offers issued by St. Columba's College, St. Albans in Monday 2 March 2026. Compare with offers from any other independent schools applied to.
Step 7 — Accept your place and pay deposit
Accept your offer in writing and pay the acceptance deposit (typically £500-£2,000, deducted from first-term fees) by the school's deadline.
CEM Subjects Tested at St. Columba's College, St. Albans
CEM Practice Papers for St. Columba's College, St. Albans
St. Columba's College, St. Albans uses the CEM 11+ format. Our practice papers closely mirror the actual test structure — with full video explanations for every question.
- 3 × Maths, Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning tests
- 450 video explanations
- 24 hours of video content
- 3 × Maths, Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning tests
- 450 video explanations
- 22.5 hours of video content
- 3 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × Maths, Verbal & NVR
- 150 video explanations
- 8.5 hrs video content
- 3 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × Maths, Verbal & NVR
- 150 video explanations
- 8.0 hrs video content
- 3 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × Maths, Verbal & NVR
- 150 video explanations
- 7.5 hrs video content
- 3 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × Maths, Verbal & NVR
- 150 video explanations
- 7.0 hrs video content
- 3 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × Maths, Verbal & NVR
- 150 video explanations
- 6.5 hrs video content
- 3 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × Maths, Verbal & NVR
- 150 video explanations
- 6.0 hrs video content
How to Prepare for the St. Columba's College, St. Albans 11+ Exam
ExamTutor practice papers with tutor explanations for every question offers an affordable substitute for private tuition for a fraction of the cost.
📋 Take a Diagnostic Test
Start with a timed practice test to identify strengths and areas needing improvement.
📅 Build a Study Plan
Start at least 6–12 months before the exam. Focus extra time on weaker subjects.
🎥 Review with Video Explanations
Watch video solutions for incorrect answers. Rewatch difficult topics until confident.
⏱️ Develop Exam Technique
Practice under timed conditions to build stamina and learn to manage difficult questions.
📈 Track Progress
Monitor scores over time to see genuine improvement and identify remaining weak spots.
🚀 Build Confidence
Simulating real exam conditions means no surprises on the day — your child knows what to expect.
Academic Performance at St. Columba's College, St. Albans (GCSE & A-Level Results)
St Columba’s is an academically selective Catholic school with strong results and small class sizes, particularly in the Sixth Form.
- GCSE: a high proportion of strong GCSE grades across a broad curriculum.
- A-Level: a strong sixth form with small classes and individual attention.
- Progression: high rates of progression to leading universities, supported by individual guidance.
Exam results change annually, so always confirm the latest published figures on the school’s website.
Catchment Area for St. Columba's College, St. Albans
St Columba's College is an independent school and does not operate a catchment area. Places are open to families from across St Albans and the surrounding Hertfordshire area, served by a network of school coaches, and are allocated on the basis of the entrance assessment rather than where a family lives.
The College sits near the centre of St Albans, overlooking the Cathedral across the River Ver; it is a day school and entry is by assessment rather than catchment.
Pastoral Care, Sport & Extracurricular Life
Founded in 1939 and run by the Brothers of the Sacred Heart from 1955, St Columba’s College is a co-educational Catholic day school (ages 4–18) that moved from being boys-only to co-education from 2021 and now welcomes boys and girls at all stages, including Year 7. It welcomes pupils of all faiths and none and is built on its values of Courage, Courtesy and Compassion.
Alongside academic work there is a broad co-curricular programme spanning rugby, athletics, swimming, football and tennis, the Combined Cadet Force, the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, drama and choir. For the full list, see the school’s own website.
Frequently Asked Questions about St. Columba's College, St. Albans
How do I apply to St. Columba's College, St. Albans for Year 7?
Applications to St. Columba's College, St. Albans are made directly to the school. Register on the school's website (registration closes Friday 27 June 2025), pay the registration fee, sit the entrance exam, and attend an interview if shortlisted.
Does St. Columba's College, St. Albans use the CEM 11+ test?
St. Columba's College, St. Albans historically used the CEM (Centre for Evaluation and Monitoring) 11+ entrance test. Since CEM 11+ was retired in 2022, many schools have transitioned to GL Assessment or developed bespoke entrance tests. Practice papers in the CEM-style format remain valuable preparation as the topic areas (English, Maths, Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning) are still tested in most formats.
What's the difference between CEM and GL Assessment?
Both test similar subjects (English, Maths, Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning) but differ in style: CEM was designed to be less coachable with broader vocabulary and varied question types per paper; GL Assessment has more structured, predictable papers per subject area. Many former CEM schools now use GL Assessment after CEM 11+ was retired in 2022.
How many Year 7 places does St. Columba's College, St. Albans have?
St. Columba's College, St. Albans admits a limited number of Year 7 pupils each September. Demand for places typically exceeds supply, so the school applies its oversubscription criteria to allocate places fairly.
When is the 11+ test for St. Columba's College, St. Albans?
For 2026 entry, St. Columba's College, St. Albans's 11+ entrance assessment is held in Saturday 20 September 2025 (English + Maths + VR + NVR). Registration closes Friday 27 June 2025.
What's the pass mark / qualifying score for St. Columba's College, St. Albans?
St. Columba's College, St. Albans sets its own qualifying mark each year based on the standardised score distribution of applicants. Pupils must score at or above the qualifying mark to be eligible for a place. Final ranking is by total standardised score (highest first) according to performance in the entrance assessment.
Is St. Columba's College, St. Albans a state school or fee-paying?
St. Columba's College, St. Albans is an independent fee-paying school. Registration fees, entrance exam fees, and tuition fees apply. Bursaries and scholarships are typically available for academically able pupils from lower-income families — check the school's website for details.
How can my child prepare for the St. Columba's College, St. Albans 11+ test?
ExamTutor offers a complete CEM-style 11+ preparation programme including tutor-led practice papers, full video explanations for every question, and downloadable resources covering English, Mathematics, Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning. Most parents start preparation 12-18 months before the test for best results.
Where can I find St. Columba's College, St. Albans's official admissions policy?
The full Admissions Policy for St. Columba's College, St. Albans 2026 entry is published on the school's official website. Always check the school's website for the most up-to-date oversubscription criteria, current test format, qualifying mark, supplementary forms, and any school-specific application requirements.